Barack Obama: As close to normal as just about anyone who's been elected

People said George W. was a guy you wanted to get a beer with. But was that really true? Did people *know* George? Or was it the affected drawl and the cowboy hat that gave you the illusion that he just might drive a pickup truck with a gun rack? The public didn't really know him. He was a fortunate son, in the Creedence Clearwater Revival sense.

Barack Obama, by his own admission, may be as close to normal as just about anyone who has been elected. You know, he's just like us. He went to the same kind of public schools. [Edit: He went to Punahou, which was private.] He grew up on the low end of middle class, but he was intellectual and proud. And yeah, they went to the best schools too, but their parents didn't have buildings named after them. And by the fruits of his own labor, he raised himself up to the highest office in the land. Incredible.

Must-watch: Barack and Michelle Obama's first interview since the election on 60 Minutes. Check it out, CBS has made the full video available.

Rahm Emanuel = Barack Obama's Ari Gold. Hatchet man, bad cop, and actually... Ari Emanuel's older brother.

Ari Gold, left. Rahm Emanuel, right.

Highlights:
  • His DC nickname is "Rahmbo"
  • The guy's favorite word is "fuck" and its many variations
  • Designated bad cop for Barack Obama... also known as Chief of Staff.
  • Volunteered in the Israeli military during the first Gulf War in 1991
  • Once mailed a rotting fish to a former colleague.
  • Told Fortune magazine's Nina Easton that he trash-talked President Bush about his mountain biking, trying to goad him into stepping it up to a triathlon and telling Bush he could wear water wings for the swimming segment if he needed them
  • His little brother is Ari Emanuel, the Hollywood superagent on whom Ari Gold's (Jeremy Piven) character on Entourage is based.

If that's his little brother, check out what big brother is going to do...

Finally, the Democrats are bringing the strong sauce.

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